Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is a system of health care - an art, science, philosophy, and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is not defined by the substances used but rather by the principles which underlie and determine its practice. These principles include: the healing power of nature, find the cause, do no harm, treat the whole person, prevention, and doctor as teacher. (Definition provided by Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians)
At Stone Turtle Health, we follow our patients' lead in determining the most effective form of care. Dr. Baker works side-by-side with her patients to find the most suitable treatment options, ranging from diet and lifestyle changes, botanical medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, and counseling, to prescription medications and necessary referrals to specialists, in order to provide them with the best possible care.
Dr. Baker, like all naturopathic doctors, recognizes that everyone is an individual and deserves to be treated as such. Further, in keeping with the naturopathic principle of treating the whole person, she always looks at symptoms in the context of a larger picture of the body as a whole when designing treatment plans.
While everyone's care is individual, there are some aspects to the office visit that are the same for almost every patient. Most first office visits take an hour. Dr. Baker spends this time getting to know you, hearing your concerns and learning of your history and unique circumstances as well as providing a comprehensive physical. Treatment plans are agreed upon with the patient at the end of the office visit and in a follow-up email. Questions can usually be answered via email or phone and a follow-up visit is typically scheduled for 30-60 minutes to assess progress and give support for any difficulites encountered in the course of treatment.
If you would like to learn more about natural medicine as it is practiced at Stone Turtle Health, please call us today at 206.355.4309 with your questions or feel free to visit our clinic during our office hours for a tour and a free 15 minute consultation. We cannot provide medical care or offer suggestions specific to your concerns at this brief consultation, but we are happy to share our philosophy and assist you in deciding if natural medicine is the best option for you. For some examples of home remedies for common health concerns, please click here.
Massage Therapy
Infants, children, men and women - EVERYONE should experience the benefits of a massage. Great for dealing with stress, recovering from an injury, helping to heal scar tissue, or aiding in processing somato-emotional responses. Massage is good for the whole family. After a brief interview, your massage therapist will tailor your massage experience to provide you with the maximum benefits.
Swedish massage is the use of different stroke techniques in a prescribed order to effect certain specific benefits. Swedish massage is designed to relax muscles, increase oxygen flow and local circulation through the compression of muscle on deeper muscles, stroking in the direction of the flow of blood back to the heart.
Pregnancy massage can be of great benefit by decreasing aches and pains caused by natural changes, addressing specific concerns such as headaches and low back pain, and increasing relaxation, leading to a smoother, less painful delivery. All pregnancy massage is performed in a side-lying position to keep mother and baby safe. Postpartum massage is also offered following delivery, until all medical conditions related to treatment are resolved. Newborns can come in with mom for a free craniosacral therapy assessment. Many will sleep through their session AND mom's massage.
Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle form of bodywork, able to be performed with the patient fully clothed, that works to remove any dural restrictions or interferences with the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Many people find this method to be extremely relaxing and working at a deeper, emotional level than typical massage. Craniosacral Therapy can also be used to unwind tight or injured areas of the body, improve sleep, and address a range of EENT problems from sinusitis to chronic ear infections.
Counseling
Naturopathic counseling acknowledges that our being is interconnected physically, emotionally and spiritually and that all parts must work in harmony for optimal health. Family or individual sessions focus on areas in our patients lives where they are experiencing blockages in their progress towards wellness. In many cases, patients can be helped to find motivation for changes in health behaviors that will assist them in making the changes they wish to make, whether in diet, smoking cessation, relationships and communication, or other healthcare issues.
Medical Cannabis Authorizations
Important: Prior to scheduling an appointment for an authorization, you will need medical records from your current provider verifying your condition. Without outside records, we are required by law to independently verify your condition prior to issuing an authorization (via labs, imaging, patient visits, etc). We can be reached via email for further questions at info@stoneturtlehealth.com
At Stone Turtle Health, our emphasis is on compassionate care. In the state of Washington, cannabis has been legalized for use of many serious medical conditions. If you have a qualifiying condition as defined in Washington state law RCW 69.51A.010, cannabis may help. If you are interested in obtaining a recommendation for the use of medicinal cannabis, please first refer to the list of qualifying conditions below. This list changes periodically as new conditions are added.
As of July 22, 2011, all cannabis patients will be required to have ongoing relationships with the authorizing provider, including utilization of other treatments aside from cannabis, for their condition. We do not "rubber stamp" authorizations and, in some cases, renewal requests have been rejected because patient documentation of conditions does not justify the initial authorization. Reviews of records for eligibility are available for free and take up to 1 week from the record reciept date for notification of status. All patients MUST READ AND COMPLY with our FAQ page when coming in for a visit.
Qualifying conditions include:
- Cancer
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Epilepsy or other seizure or spasticity disorders
- Intractable pain, limited for the purpose of this chapter to mean pain unrelieved by standard medical treatments and medications
- Glaucoma, either acute or chronic, meaning increased intraocular pressure unrelieved by standard treatments and medications
- Crohn’s disease with debilitating symptoms unrelieved by standard treatments or medications
- Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain unrelieved by standard treatments or medications
- Diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity, when these symptoms are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications
- Any other medical condition duly approved by the Washington state medical quality assurance commission in consultation with the board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as directed in this chapter.
See the Washington State Department of Health Medical Marijuana page for a list of updated conditions as well as frequently asked questions.